Back to English Comments Travel - March 17, 2019 | 08:00 pm GMT+7 In the Mekong Delta, trading on waterways has been a way of life for generations, but its novelty never wears off.It goes without saying that a floating market has to be on the to-do list of any traveler to Vietnam's Mekong Delta, and the biggest of all such establishments is the Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho City.The wholesale market floats on the Hau River, a branch of the Mekong River. From Ho Chi Minh City, you can get to Can Tho by motorbike, bus or car. Since the road trip takes around four hours, a one-day tour is not ideal and I would advise that such plans are amended. The best thing to do is to get to Can Tho the previous evening, spend the night there and save the Cai Rang market tour for the next morning.As the market usually opens around six in the morning and runs until 10-11 a.m., the trick here is to show up early to avoid the scorching sun plus the heat and at the same time, … [Read more...] about Cai Rang Market: a floating existence rooted deep in the soil – VnExpress International
Downtown farmers market
With farms atop malls, Singapore gets serious about food security
Comcrop’s 600-square-meter (6,450-square-foot) farm on the roof of one of the malls uses vertical racks and hydroponics to grow leafy greens and herbs such as basil and peppermint that it sells to nearby bars, restaurants and stores. The farm’s small size belies its big ambition: to help improve the city’s food security. Comcrop’s Allan Lim, who set up the rooftop farm five years ago, recently opened a 4,000-square-metre farm with a greenhouse on the edge of the city. He believes high-tech urban farms are the way ahead for the city, where more land cannot be cultivated. "Agriculture is not seen as a key sector in Singapore. But we import most of our food, so we are very vulnerable to sudden disruptions in supply," Lim said. "Land, natural resources and low-cost labor used to be the predominant way that countries achieved food security. But we can use technology to solve any deficiencies," he said. Singapore last year topped the Economist Intelligence … [Read more...] about With farms atop malls, Singapore gets serious about food security
Weekend venues in town
Around Town Weekend venues in town Nguyen The Phong Thursday, Aug 10, 2017,22:04 (GMT+7) Weekend venues in townNguyen The Phong Tourists buy food at a weekend bazaar in HCMC’s District 1 - PHOTOS: HOANG PHONG Apart from sightseeing spots, HCMC has on offer many bustling and colorful venues for shopping, relaxation and dining services for tourists, especially those from abroad. Following are some destinations recommended for visitors during the weekend. Outcash Farmers’ Market: 188/1 Nguyen Van Huong Street, Thao Dien Ward, District 2 Those interested in organic and nutritious food and products should head for the Farmers Market at the Saigon Outcast in HCMC’s District 2 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. this Sunday. The market features nearly 50 stalls of local and foreign vendors selling organic products, homemade cakes, healthy snacks, detox packages, and natural honey among others. Families and young people will … [Read more...] about Weekend venues in town
In downtown Hanoi, as the weather sizzles, the crowds fizzle out
At noon in downtown Hanoi, one gets the feeling the entire city has been evacuated. There has been exodus to the indoors in the capital city as the northern and central region are scorched by feel-factor temperatures which have topped 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The sweltering conditions could last another three or four days, weather forecasters say. Swept clean: At 1 p.m on Monday, July 2, in Hanoi, the usually overcrowded Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square was deserted. That's really hot: On Kham Thien Street, the thermometer read 45 degrees Celsius at 1:45 p.m on Monday, July 2. Except for the odd bicycle and motorbike, this crowded street is also deserted. Shimmering heat: Life goes on, and people get to work. Traffic on Lang Street. Vacant space: With no one venturing outside, the pavement on Thai Ha Street wears an empty look.. Full spectrum protection: This “suncoat” has become a familiar sight on the street as women shield themselves from the blazing … [Read more...] about In downtown Hanoi, as the weather sizzles, the crowds fizzle out
China no longer ‘easy’ on Vietnamese agricultural produce: minister
A trader wait amongst baskets containing fresh produce on sale at a wholesale market in downtown Hanoi. Photo by AFP Reliance on China for agricultural exports has hurt Vietnamese farmers and businesses. Vietnam should expand its agricultural exports to other markets instead of being dependant on China where standards on export items are being tightened, a meeting heard on Tuesday. China is now following international practices, tracing food origins and performing quality checks on imported agricultural produce, including those from Vietnam, said Tran Tuan Anh, Minister of Industry and Trade at the National Assembly meeting. The northern neighbor used to allow 100 Vietnamese businesses to export rice, but now only 27 of them are permitted, Anh. For years, China’s fluctuating agricultural demand has also been hurting Vietnamese farmers. Many Chinese dealers have cancelled their deals with Vietnamese farmers, resulting in an oversupply of seasonal produce that are … [Read more...] about China no longer ‘easy’ on Vietnamese agricultural produce: minister